Seriously...You're Going Again?! Yep!! The Final Wrap-Up!!! 12.26.13

[sherylcin]

Soooo happy you're not speeding thru this trip report cause I finally had a chance to catch up!! My notes along the way:

We saw the Pirate Jack show in January and I totally agree with you. I think maybe it's very impressive if you are knowledgeable or interested in all the special effects stuff???? Enjoyed it but not a must see in Nov/Dec.
You weren't blown away by Fantasmic!!?? (Just kidding) We do love that show though and it is on our must see list.
The pic of Chris and Keith on LM had me . I think it's already been said: Priceless! Good sports to go along though for sure.
I think the Liberty Belle and Tom Sawyer Island are some hidden gems at WDW. A nice slower-paced break during the day.
You all must be so proud of your son! Hope he's doing well and coping with his new life!
Loved the pics of the Electrical Water Parade. We stayed at BLT a couple of years ago and I got to see it every night. It's just good old-fashioned fun. I love it!
All of the pics from F&G are BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for taking them. It's almost as good as seeing it in person!

I'm going to try and stay caught up now. We'll see.............

 

[shan23877]

I think I'm all caught up! Sorry to have been MIA!

I love the food at 'Ohana, but our service was iffy there on our last trip too. I think we're skipping it next time.

I LOVE F&G pics! So excited to be going back for the festival this year!

 

[TinksThree]

Soooo happy you're not speeding thru this trip report cause I finally had a chance to catch up!! My notes along the way:

We saw the Pirate Jack show in January and I totally agree with you. I think maybe it's very impressive if you are knowledgeable or interested in all the special effects stuff???? Enjoyed it but not a must see in Nov/Dec.
You weren't blown away by Fantasmic!!?? (Just kidding) We do love that show though and it is on our must see list.
The pic of Chris and Keith on LM had me . I think it's already been said: Priceless! Good sports to go along though for sure.
I think the Liberty Belle and Tom Sawyer Island are some hidden gems at WDW. A nice slower-paced break during the day.
You all must be so proud of your son! Hope he's doing well and coping with his new life!
Loved the pics of the Electrical Water Parade. We stayed at BLT a couple of years ago and I got to see it every night. It's just good old-fashioned fun. I love it!
All of the pics from F&G are BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for taking them. It's almost as good as seeing it in person!

I'm going to try and stay caught up now. We'll see.............

I have most definitely slowed down on postings! Glad it has helped you! I am so slow on catching up on TRs as well so very understandable!

I think that maybe giving Fantasmic another chance could change view points. That has happened before! I do think the boys were good sports with Little Mermaid and waiting on us to do the meet and greet!

I love all of the hidden gems at Disney. I think sometimes those are what makes me love WDW more than any headliners...well except ToT!!

I think I'm all caught up! Sorry to have been MIA!

I love the food at 'Ohana, but our service was iffy there on our last trip too. I think we're skipping it next time.

I LOVE F&G pics! So excited to be going back for the festival this year!

I have been a bit MIA also. I hope to catch upon a few tonight!

I would love to make it back for F&G but I think if we go we will miss it by one week! Ohana is off our list for the next trip but if it is with first timers then Madison may insist...so we shall see!!!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

You can not go wrong with Tower of Terror. Great photo too! I assume each pair was doing the same "look at each other and scream" pose. If so... NICE!

Hmm, I never saw the shrimp/fish plate before. But now I must have it!

Haha, I always love seeing Indy with a newbee just to see how long it takes before they "catch on" to the poor (often foreign) tourist.

I do love how Epcot often has so many random character meets (training I'm guessing). I mean, I always seen to miss them, but I see them in other TR's.

 

[mickeystoontown]

The picture of the four of you on Tower of Terror is so cute! Love that idea of looking at each other and screaming.

Ahh, flower and garden festival pictures. I love them all! I see nothing wrong with just taking a stroll through Epcot and then heading back to the resort. Especially since it sounds like you've got something exciting that you need to rest up for.

 

[TinksThree]

You can not go wrong with Tower of Terror. Great photo too! I assume each pair was doing the same "look at each other and scream" pose. If so... NICE!

Hmm, I never saw the shrimp/fish plate before. But now I must have it!

Haha, I always love seeing Indy with a newbee just to see how long it takes before they "catch on" to the poor (often foreign) tourist.

I do love how Epcot often has so many random character meets (training I'm guessing). I mean, I always seen to miss them, but I see them in other TR's.

Yes we planned the "look" in the picture! We like to try and come up with something in each picture. When we ride over and over though, we sometimes just ride and not pose!

The shrimp/fish plate is pretty good...and so much food!! I recommend!

We have had some great random meet an greets over the years at Epcot. And the lines aren't crazy for the most part either! Got to love that!!

The picture of the four of you on Tower of Terror is so cute! Love that idea of looking at each other and screaming.

Ahh, flower and garden festival pictures. I love them all! I see nothing wrong with just taking a stroll through Epcot and then heading back to the resort. Especially since it sounds like you've got something exciting that you need to rest up for.

That was actually Keith's idea!!

We probably spent 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours doing this little stroll. It was just laid back and relaxed. That is what I have started loving about our trips. We keep getting more and more laid back! A pretty busy night is ahead!

 

[TinksThree]

Let me see....where did I leave off? Oh yeah! We had made a second try at DHS with much success!! We had a relaxing boat ride to Epcot! And a stroll through Epcot before heading back to the resort for a little swim and rest. We had big plans for the night...well, busy plans with fun things a long the way!!

After swimming (and it was a chilly swim this day!) we went back to the bus stop. I know this because I took two very random pictures!





Oh yes! I remember! I took this to show where our room was in relation to Port Royale! Our room was located where the red arrow is and the blue arrow shows PR. Looking at this picture I also think I would want to avoid the buildings out of the pic in Barbados!

The food poster was to show some of the food offered at the food court...which was very good!! I was impressed enough to snap a picture of the poster!

I was also impatient! I think I was filling time waiting on the bus! This was the longest bus wait we had...but truthfully, it wasn't too long...maybe 15 minutes or so!

So just where were we headed this time!?

Well, we were on our way back to Epcot for our supper ADR!!!







We had a little bit of time before our ADR, so we decided to enjoy:



This was a walk-on and before long we were on our journey!



Locating where we live!



And then we find ourselves reliving a little history...









Continued in the following post....

 

[TinksThree]

And then history becomes slightly more modern:













But then it takes a turn from history to the future!!!





Chris gets a snazzy new futuristic wardrobe!



And I enjoy a cup of joe!!



Keith and Madison enjoy a game of checkers. Madison either is helping or laughing at the effort here!!!



Chris and I hanging out in our snazzy futuristic home!



While Keith and Madison enjoy the "fresh outdoor air" of our wonderful galaxy!





We exit and find where we our in relation to this world:



I seriously find this map interesting in relation to where most of the visitors are from...that is if this map can actually be trusted as factual!

We make our way back out into the real world...



And from Future World to World Showcase we head...our ADR is in another country!!

Since we have passed Mexico and Norway, we know several restaurants marked off the list!



We keep walking,so knock Nine Dragons off the list!!




Continued in the following post...

 

[TinksThree]

We make it to Germany...



And we are exhausted!! So a break is in order!! We have been to the past, to the future, Mexico, Norway and China...that is a bit of traveling!!!



Keith loves to find a bench and sit....BORING!!!!!! I am restless so I pace and snap pictures!!



This annoying bird kept following me around...that is until four guys sat down with food and then this bird got VERY annoying! But at least it wasn't annoying me now!

Let's see what the rest of my family is doing...



Seriously?!?!!? This is actually a different picture taken many minutes after the above one!!!

Finally it is time to go to our ADR...so we head indoors!!



We sign in and wait....



and wait and wait and wait....thirty minutes later....we are seated!!



It was actually about 15 minutes after our ADR since I had checked in early but it was still a long wait since there is no where to sit! There were also a whole lot of people turned away because they were trying to walk up with no ADR. One person got very upset at the poor girl requiring a manager. They did not know ADRs were required at the sit down places...

So we make it inside and sit at our table. I snap a few people before we hit the buffet lines:
















Our table was in a perfect location! It was top level, center of the stage plus we also were very close to the buffet lines!!

Since we were eating with other people...I refrained from taking food pics here. Our dining companions were at first a little stiff. We did not talk a whole lot but the man was from Germany. He did rate the food based on what he grew up eating and most things he said were pretty authentic.

Overall this place was wonderful again! Keith and I tried eating here is October and really enjoyed it! I made this ADR for something different but I was afraid picky Miss. Madison would turn her nose up at everything.

However (and this is where a good review goes great!), Madison ate more food here than at any other buffet at Disney...ever! She didn't try everything but there were so many options that she could find a lot to eat! Plus they have brussel sprouts which our family loves.

But who finds this funny? Madison is a very picky eater at times but her favorite veggie??? Brussel Sprouts!

This place ranked so high that she even recommends it to others and wants to go back. So I say Biergarten is a huge winner!!

While we enjoyed our food, we were entertained!











After a fun, filling meal it was time to head out for the next part of our plans! By this time it was getting close to 9 pm. But Illuminations was not in the cards for this evening. When we were planning the trip, Keith said he wanted to be in the parks as much as possible and use all of the "open" times possible. So tonight, it is PM EMH at MK...so off we go to the monorail! As we exit, we hear Illuminations in the background and I snag a few night pics as we make our way out:





So up next...nighttime at Magic Kingdom!!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Haha, I get suck a kick out of those who jump on Spaceship Earth first thing. Later in the day it's almost always a walk on. Ouch, it looks like you may have taken a blow to the head in your photo.

Hmmm, looks like Keith found a beverage on the journey. I hope it was a good one.

It's shocking to me (though it's getting less and less) when people show up with no reservation. Just a little research before a trip of this magnitude would be enough. But it really bothers me when people get upset at the CM's for what is really their own fault.

I really love the look of Biergarten. I've never been in myself, but it looks so amazing in photos.

 

[saintstickets]

Our table was in a perfect location! It was top level, center of the stage plus we also were very close to the buffet lines!!

Since we were eating with other people...I refrained from taking food pics here. Our dining companions were at first a little stiff. We did not talk a whole lot but the man was from Germany. He did rate the food based on what he grew up eating and most things he said were pretty authentic.

Overall this place was wonderful again! Keith and I tried eating here is October and really enjoyed it!

I love the food and entertainment at Biergarten but each time we have eaten there our table-mates were very shy or reserved. Come on folks! It's Disney, open up and enjoy my ridiculousness!!!

 

[TinksThree]

Haha, I get suck a kick out of those who jump on Spaceship Earth first thing. Later in the day it's almost always a walk on. Ouch, it looks like you may have taken a blow to the head in your photo.

Hmmm, looks like Keith found a beverage on the journey. I hope it was a good one.

It's shocking to me (though it's getting less and less) when people show up with no reservation. Just a little research before a trip of this magnitude would be enough. But it really bothers me when people get upset at the CM's for what is really their own fault.

I really love the look of Biergarten. I've never been in myself, but it looks so amazing in photos.

First...One thing Keith has made a must-do...beer in Germany and people watching on a bench! Works great for me when I want to shop, too!

I always wonder about people bee-lining straight to Spaceship Earth in the mornings! It is always walk-on at some point! But then I think that falls back on people not planning...even a little bit. It goes a long way in having an enjoyable trip!!

Biergarten is very good! I hope you make it there one day!

I love the food and entertainment at Biergarten but each time we have eaten there our table-mates were very shy or reserved. Come on folks! It's Disney, open up and enjoy my ridiculousness!!!

Biergarten is really so good!! Unfortunately, our table mates were more on the society page so a little stiff. They did open up towards the very end and got to talking. I think their beverages assisted in that, though!

 

[sherylcin]

So glad the kids enjoyed Biergarten. I think I already commented from your October trip report but this is a must do every trip for us. How did you walk by the carmel shop though? I need to know your secret cause it draws us in like a magnet!!

 

[TinksThree]

So glad the kids enjoyed Biergarten. I think I already commented from your October trip report but this is a must do every trip for us. How did you walk by the carmel shop though? I need to know your secret cause it draws us in like a magnet!!

I was glad they enjoyed it too! I was worried about Madison but she surprised me! Well...that caramel shop is a MUST!! So.......

Sorry for being MIA...again!! October has been crazy busy plus I have been sick most of the month...I just love all the allergies and in Mississippi it can't decide if it should be 60 degrees, 70 degrees, 80 degrees or in the 90s! Plus we are winding down football but kicking soccer in gear...Whew! It has been tiring. I promise to be back soon!! There is only one night and one day left though!

 

[TinksThree]

I am going to try and get an update done before a complete MONTH passes!! Sorry I am such a slacker these days!!! Thursday night was our final (literally!! ) high school football game and as the band booster president (yes, I am that crazy!! ) I was in charge of senior night. Let me just say that was like a part-time job!! October has been crazy busy!! And today...soccer season starts!! Whew!! But enough about my excuses for not posting! How about an update ya'll?!?!

Recap: We had spent the early evening back at Epcot where we rode Spaceship Earth and then wandered over to Germany for a lively and delicious meal at Biergarten!! Now we had plans for a fun night!!

I can't remember if I mentioned this but just in case I have not, here ya go: When we began planning this trip a whole two weeks before departure day, we knew we would only have four days in the park. Due to this, Keith (and yes I typed that correctly so don't question me when you read this!!) said he wanted us to spend as much time in the parks as possible. This meant doing AM and PM EMHs as much as possible and being IN the parks as much as possible plus catching all fireworks! I know....!!! For those that haven't read my past reports, this is coming from the same man that declared he "hated" Disney his whole life until 2010 when I began showing him the light!! Even MORE amazing??? Our plans for tonight...HIS idea!! And for those that have read my reports: what his Keith's least favorite park? Magic Kingdom...so guess where we are heading? Yep, you guessed it!:









Now by the time we had finished our meal, made our way to the monorail and rode to MK to then go through the whole entrance ordeals, it was quickly approaching 9 pm. People were lining up everywhere for the laser show and Wishes! As in, there was no where to stand that the CMs weren't saying "keep moving, keep moving"! This obviously presented a problem if we wanted to actually stop and see anything!

Keith really wasn't into seeing it all from the same views as the kids and I so he went off towards Tomorrowland to find a spot to sit and wait it out (but he still saw the fireworks, just a different view).

The kids and I finally find a spot we could squeeze in and enjoy. It wasn't a bad spot at all for viewing but taking pictures was a challenge. My lens kept focusing on kids on dad's shoulders, people much taller than me and balloons...but I did manage to get a few shots.

The laser show we were in a slightly different spot than Wishes! Keith actually hung with us here. We were right outside the Plaza Restaurant:















Continued in the following post/next page...

 

[TinksThree]

Wreck It Ralph was represented in the Castle Laser Show. This movie had just been released on DVD a week or so prior to our trip. I bought it and we watched not knowing a ton about the movie. Oh. my. goodness. I enjoyed it!! And the more I watch it, the more I love it! There are so many great lessons in that movie! Plus...I love Sugar Rush!! Every time I watch the movie, I can't help imagining a great dark coaster racing to the finish line!

We decide to try moving closer for Wishes! and this is when Keith is tired of the crowds and leaves us. We stop inside the hub, to the right. We really squeezed in and kind of separated to be able to stand there. (No cutting, pushing, shoving, or rightful spots were taken in this squeezing in! )

This was our view:



And then.....it began!!!!

A poor attempt to capture Tinkerbell!



But I got her!!

And then what we all were there to see!!





































Continued in the following post...

 

[TinksThree]

After the fireworks, we went to meet up with Keith along with hundreds and hundreds of other people.



We are heading into the land of the "future"...or recent past....however you want to view Tomorrowland!

And at this point, my friends, the pictures ended. Mostly because we were bouncing from ride to ride and I didn't stop long enough to take pictures! But we began at one of my favorite attractions: Monster's Inc Laugh Floor then we moved on to Carousel of Progress (another one I love) then to Buzz Lightyear and Space Mtn and then we found a wall...you know the wall in any park after a long fun-filled day? The wall that has a huge, massive sign on it that says "You are tired...Tomorrow is the last day...GET SOME SLEEP...It WILL all still be here!" You know that wall, right?! Well we found it and decided to heed the advice. So we made our way out of the Magic Kingdom but first, who can leave without this pic?



And a final farewell....



It had been another amazing day!!! But we had one final day to enjoy!!!

March 16 in the following post!!!

 

[TinksThree]

I am just going to jump right in to the next day...Saturday, March 16!!!

This was our last day and we were beginning it with a request from Chris! (and apparently Keith doesn't mind this one too much either!!) We awoke and made our way to the bus stop. The bus wasn't too long in coming and soon we were making our way to our first destination. Don't let this fool you...we really do love each other! Honestly!!!



Bus ride (attraction #1 for the day, right?!)to Magic Kingdom and a monorail ride to...



Surely you know where, right?!?! The Poly!!!!

We check in at Ohana and then we sit to wait our turn:



Oh how boring life was before the invention of Smart Phones! What did we do in that pre-historic era??? Converse? People watch? Twiddle our thumbs? How ever did we survive?!?!?

Then we are seated, food begins arriving and we dig in! This is one breakfast that we all love! The food is good and I love that it is served family style and not buffet. They bring it to us but we still get all we can eat!!



Fresh Fruit! So yummy!!



Some of the BEST juice around!!



The platter loaded with great food (well the bacon is a little debateable but over-all: DELISH!!!)!!!



And, of course, Mickey waffles!!!



And see the mug in the background? Wonderful coffee!!!

Soon the characters make there way around. Lilo was first!







And then Stitch comes along full of crazy antics!!







We have a small break from the characters so we eat some more. And take a few pics:



And our view:



Not too shabby! I can live with that!!

And soon Mickey comes along!!







By the time Pluto came along, we were ready to go so no offense to Pluto but just a few pics because we have parks to explore!!!






Continued in the following post...

 

[TinksThree]

We pay up and make our way to the boat dock. Along the way we grab a few pictures.

Madison and Chris hang ten (am I even saying that right?! )



The Poly is such a beautiful resort with all of the fauna and foliage!!









The boat is coming!!! So we picked the pace up slightly!



Farewell Poly!!



It was a gorgeous morning!! The weather was warming up nicely and the sky was cloudless. Perfect!!!



And what was even better? The smiles on my kiddos faces! THIS is what makes my heart smile! I may love Disney but nothing is sweeter than this!! Just a candid shot, not me asking "hey smile for one more picture" and getting eye-rolling but just honest-to-goodness smiles and enjoyment between siblings!!



And soon our destination was in sight!



Yes, we were back at the Magic Kingdom!! And I shall stop here! Up next Magic Kingdom and should we attempt our new tradition of 4 Parks in One Day? After all, it is 10 am and we are just now getting to our first park!!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Oh God I just can't imagine Magic Kingdom being anyone's least favourite park. Glad he "saw the light" a little bit.

Celebrate the Magic is SUCH a beautiful show. I still liked Magic Memories and You a bit more, but this one is still spectacular. I love how they can add and remove segments depending on the season and what not. I can't wait to see the Christmas addition.

Wishes still gives me chills, even just photos of it. There is nothing I would rather be doing at any time.

That's so cool that hundreds and hundreds of people also went to meet up with Keith.

I am absolutely familiar with that wall. Unfortunately, I tend to just walk around it.

Ahh Mickey Waffles. Why are you so good?